RUSS DESALVO

Manager of Transmission Control at ComEd

Russ works for the largest utility in Illinois.  He does an excellent job of explaining the grid. He takes us to Bronzeville, where ComEd is building a microgrid.  A large solar array on the rooftops of a public housing project and a large battery system in a vacant lot give this neighborhood resilience against power outages.

Bronzeville is another example of policy unleashing funds to test out or roll out renewables through Department of Energy grants. Bronzeville also shows us how utilities are revolutionizing their delivery system. “ComEd is investing in this because we're preparing for the future. We understand that the system is changing and we want to lead the change.”

“What can we deliver for the customer going forward and in the future?  So that's really what Bronzeville is about. It's a living lab. It's about what we can do to demonstrate value to the customer, what we can do to support them and enhance their life.”